Single plant | 2.5”-4” Pot included
Philodendron 'Pink Princess' Care :
Botanical Name
Philodendron erubescens 'pink princess'
Common Name
Philodendron pink princess, blushing philodendron
Family
Araceae
Plant Type
Perennial
Mature Size
2-4 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide
Sun Exposure
Partial
Soil Type
Loamy, moist but well-draining
Soil pH
Acidic
Bloom Time
Spring, summer
Flower Color
Green, white
Hardiness Zones
9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Native Area
South America
Native to Columbia, the philodendron 'pink princess' is a tropical aroid in the Araceae family. Despite its high price tag, this colorful plant is actually pretty easy to care for. That being said there are a few key things to keep in mind to ensure that you are maximizing the variegation on the leaves. While the pink princess produces flowers, the spathes are insignificant compared to the foliage of the plant and it is rare for them to flower indoors.
Light
Providing your plant with enough light is the most important factor influencing the amount of variegation it will have. Choose a location that receives several hours of bright, indirect light. When grown indoors, the plant can also tolerate a couple hours of direct light, which may help to increase its variegation. If you do not have a location in your home that receives enough light, buying a grow light for this plant is recommended. Without enough light the plant leaves will quickly begin reverting back to green and it will lose its stunning variegation.
Soil
As an aroid, the plant enjoys airy, well-draining soil that is high in organic matter. A mixture of one part standard potting soil, one part perlite, and one part orchid bark is ideal for the pink princess.
Water
Allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings and then water well. Ensure that your plant is never sitting in waterlogged soil as they are susceptible to root rot. It is far easier to overwater your pink princess philodendron than to under water it, so if you are unsure about whether it needs water, air on the side of caution and wait another day.
Temperature and Humidity
The plant does best in warm, humid conditions - although typical household temperature and humidity levels are fine for these hardy plants. Ideally, keep your plant in temperatures between 65 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 26 degrees Celsius) and avoid exposing it to temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius).
Fertilizer
During its growing season (spring and summer) the plant benefits from regular monthly feedings with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Stop fertilizing your plant in the early fall as it enters its dormant period.
Philodendron 'Pink Princess' Propagation:
As with most philodendrons, the pink princess can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. Not only will this help you create a new plant to share with a friend, but propagation also leads to a bushier plant and can help to encourage variegation (especially if the leaves on your plant have started to revert). Here’s how you can propagate your pink princess philodendron by stem cuttings in just a few easy steps:
First, choose where you will cut the stem of your plant. You will want your cutting to have 2-3 leaves and 2-3 expose nodes at the bottom of the cutting.
Using a pair of sharp, sterilized pruning shears or scissors cut the stem and separate your cutting.
Remove the bottom leaves from your cutting, leaving just 2-3 leaves at the top.
Set the cutting aside for 12-24 hours to allow the cut edge to callous over.
Once the edge has calloused, place the cutting in water and put it in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Ensure that the exposed nodes of the cutting are submerged in the water at all times.
Within 2-3 weeks you should begin to notice new roots sprouting from the cutting.
Once the roots have grown to at least 1-inch in length the cutting can be transferred back to soil. Use a well-draining potting mix and water thoroughly4.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
The pink princess philodendron is susceptible to a number of common houseplant pests and diseases. Common pests include mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, scale, and fungus gnats. Common diseases include root rot, which is a result of overwatering, and rust spot, which is a result of a fungal infection.
Common Problems With Pink Princess Philodendron
With the proper care, pink princess philodendrons are relatively problem-free. Common issues with these tropical plants usually arise from improper watering, humidity, or light.
Browning Edges
Browning edges on the leaves of a pink princess philodendron are usually a result of a lack of humidity which causes the leaves to begin drying out. Unfortunately there is no way to reverse the damage once it has happened, but if you increase the humidity around the plant it should prevent further browning.
Browning Variegation
The last thing you want to see on your beautiful pink variegation is brown spots, but unfortunately this can happen if you have exposed your plant to light that is too harsh. The delicate pink spots on the leaves are prone to burning under harsh lighting conditions, resulting in large burn spots. Sometimes this can also be a result of a lack of humidity, as mentioned above.
